Preppers come from all different backgrounds and have individual concerns. They are often painted as alarmists with irrational fears. Some are worried about chemical warfare, while others are simply worried about their neighborhood. One thing they all have in common is a need for a doomsday prepping list.

In the first half of Patriot Headquarters’ ultimate doomsday prepping list, you’ll discover:

The ONE thing EVERY doomsday prepping list should include… It’s creamy, delicious and full of vital and healthy calories, B vitamins and protein. Even kids LOVE it — and it NEVER goes bad

Why you MUST pack this one often overlooked clothing item. It’s EASY to carry and VERSATILE enough for nearly ALL conditions

This often forgotten ESSENTIAL for your medical kit that costs less than a quarter apiece, will help keep you SAFE and has nearly UNLIMITED uses beyond medical prep.

The unique thing about a doomsday prepping list is that it’s one of the only lists people create but hope never to use.

One thing that unites preppers is that most scenarios pretty much require the same items. We all have the same basic needs. But preppers go beyond the basics. They plan, acquire and execute.

That is why we’ve created the ultimate doomsday list that can be used by every type of prepper. We have organized it into 14 categories with 107 unique items.

Yes, that sounds like a large number, but I guarantee you already own many of the items on this list. Others will be things you haven’t considered.

No matter how many items you have, the best time to get started on your doomsday prepping list is NOW.

CATEGORY NO. 1: FOOD

1. Canned Goods: This a staple on every prepper’s list for obvious reasons. Canned goods are easy to acquire and store. They can last for years, and you can buy almost any type of food in a canned variety.

2. Corn: Dried corn is of course a vegetable but also a grain

3. Sugar: You can buy canned sugar, and it’s cheap to stock up on.

4. Flour: Potato flour is maybe the most versatile, as it’s finely ground and works as a thickener.

5. Oats: If you’re in survival mode, you will need to stock up on fiber. Oats are perfect for that basic need. They can also be used to make dishes such as oatmeal.

6. Beans: Again, a great source for fiber and cheap to buy.

7. Dry Pasta: In the worst circumstances, you want very little fat. That’s why dry pasta is the healthier choice — and it keeps longer.

8. Rice: A good source for grains and easy to store.

9. Spices: With limited food options, you will want all the seasoning possible.

10. Peanut Butter: A versatile food that can keep for months even at room temperature. It is packed with B vitamins and protein, and kids love it.

11. Cooking Oil: An absolute necessity for the types of cooking you will be able to do in a doomsday environment.

12. Salt: Not a necessity, but you’ll definitely notice if you don’t have it.

13. Wheat: Grind it into flour if you need to, but mostly use it as a thickening agent. Whole grain wheat is healthier and has a long storage life.

14. Powdered Milk: Can be used in place of nondairy creamers.

15. Fruit Bars: Dried fruit bars are portable and also enjoy a long storage life.

16. Cutlery: You don’t need to go crazy with a full Ginsu collection, but make sure you have the basics.

17. Plates: See above. In this circumstance (assuming you have the proper amount of water) you can easily wash and reuse plates and cutlery over and over.

18. Kettle: Use it not only for cooking but also as a heat source in a pinch.

19. Aluminum Foil: Most doomsday scenarios don’t involve full kitchens. Aluminum foil can be used to wrap food for storing, among several other uses.

CATEGORY NO. 2: WATER

20. Water: In terms of importance, this could easily be No. 1. It’s not only necessary for survival but can also be used for dozens of tasks.

21. Waterproof Matches: Wax coating will ensure you can get a flame in even damp circumstances.

22. Water Purification Tablets: If you don’t have purified water (or you run out), these tablets can eliminate chemicals and even viruses.

23. Small Water Filter: Filter out contaminants. Our top recommendation in a water filter is the Alexapure Pro water filter. This revolutionary device removes up to 99.9999% of bacteria, viruses, toxic chemicals, heavy metals and even pharmaceuticals from any freshwater source. Check it out right here.

24. Hydration Pack: This can be an add-on to most backpacks and is extremely convenient when you’re on the go.

25. Drinking Container: If your water isn’t bottled, you will want a separate container for drinking water.

26. Thermal Bottle: Perfect because they’re portable and support hot and cold temperatures.

CATEGORY NO. 3: CLOTHING

27. Warm Clothing: Even if you’re in a warm region, you must be prepared for inclement weather. It’s possible you’ll have to travel and/or be outside at night.

29. Poncho: This often overlooked item is versatile, lightweight and takes up very little space. If your clothing supply is limited, it’s very important to keep what you do have dry.

30. Wide-brimmed Hat: It will help not only with the sun but also deterring pests.

31. Thick Socks: Any military personnel will tell you how important keeping your feet healthy is to remaining mobile.

32. Boots: This should be self-explanatory, but if you need to get some we recommend a lightweight steel-toed pair.

33. Jacket: Go for something waterproof and good for layering.

CATEGORY NO. 4: MEDICAL

34. First-aid Kit: You can buy these at just about any store, and there’s no reason not to keep a couple around.

35. Antibiotics: Reduce the possibility of infection and help promote quicker healing.

36. Gauze & Wraps: Flintstones Band-Aids won’t do it.

37. Hand Sanitizer: Can be used for cleaning medical tools in addition to hands.

38. Aspirin: Cheap and effective pain reliever for adults.

39. Prescriptions: If water and food are at the top, your medication may be No. 3 depending on your condition. If you can’t secure a true backup of your monthly medications, try to acquire the generic versions.

40. Rubber Gloves: This essential item will help keep you safe and costs less than a quarter apiece! Buy them by the box. You can use them for medical procedures, food prep and waste management.

41. Isopropyl Alcohol: Basic disinfectant.

42. Vitamins: This is doubly important if you have any known deficiencies. Your food menu will be limited, and these could keep you functioning at full capacity.

43. Hydrogen Peroxide: Can be used as a mouthwash if necessary.

44. Ibuprofen: Get this in lieu of aspirin for children.

45. Surgical Stapler: Look up proper use if you are not experienced. This can be incredibly effective if used properly.

Then there was the time in the movie theater. I had a large popcorn. I didn’t want her to touch the popcorn until the movie started.

She took the popcorn out of my hands and threw it all over the theater.

If I could give advice to my 19-year-old self, would I tell the younger me to avoid her?

Of course not. Without her, I might only now be with a woman who throws my food everywhere.

Since then, I’ve been gradually improving what my line was in terms of what I could handle in a relationship.

“I don’t want someone who throws my food everywhere” was the first rule.

Over the next 20 years, I got better and better. Sometimes I slipped. But mostly I got better.

But it took 20 years.

If I could go back and tell myself one thing?

Nothing Is Going to Change for You Today

Diets don’t work in a day… but dieting every day works.

Getting your finances in order doesn’t happen in a day… but small changes every day work.

If you insist, I need to change RIGHT NOW, then it won’t work. You’ll only get worse.

But if you give yourself permission to improve only a little each day — just 1% a day — you’ll have a much better chance at succeeding.

It’s permission to improve. But it’s also permission to fail. Because when you first start something, you’re going to fail.

If you want to succeed at anything, you have to have to be prepared to fail twice as much as you thought you would.

If you insist that the habit changes tomorrow, then the habit will certainly fail.

Coolio, the rapper, wrote lyrics every day for 17 years before having a hit.

Commander Hadfield, the astronaut, improved his skills every day for 20 years before getting into space.

Kurt Vonnegut wrote every day for 25 years before he had a major bestseller.

Even Mozart, despite being a prodigy, wrote music for 10 years every day before becoming a true master.

Improve just a little each day. Experience compounds.

And when 1% compounds every day, it doubles every 72 days. Compounding tiny excellence is what creates big excellence.

You can’t be a master in one day. You have to improve a little every day.

“But It’s Too Late for Me!”

No, it’s not. Compounding creates fast results.

If I read five pages a day from non-fiction books, then in a year I will have read 1830 pages of knowledge. And each page I read will build upon the pages I’ve read before.

And its 1830 pages that 99% of people won’t read. Most people don’t pick up a book after age 20.

If I write 1,000 words a day, then in one day that’s nothing. In one year that’s the equivalent of 6-8 novels.

But you can also decrease 1% a day. We can say, “Aww, it’s only one day. Don’t pressure me!”

Such an easy choice. It seems trivial. 1% up or 1% down. But it sneaks up. And then we’re old and lonely.

Every day matters.

When I was losing all of my money, and hanging around with the wrong people. And taking the wrong drugs and dating the wrong people, it’s because I was saying, “it’s just one day.” Or, “I don’t need to improve every day, it adds up to nothing.”

Because I couldn’t see how it was adding up at first. And that became my trademarked technique for losing everything, for losing my mind. For being lonely.

The 1% rule was the one thing that worked: 1% decrease a day cost me everything. I had to get back to 1% up a day.

It can be applied to everything. If I spend one less minute feeling regret and use that to feel gratitude, think how much better my stress levels will be in one year’s time.

Stress is 100% reverse correlated with longer healthier happier life. With more money. With more love. With more creativity.

Every habit can be built using this technique.

Take 1% action per day.

More than that and you’ll give-up (“Diets don’t work!”). Less than that and it might take too long (“Diets don’t work!”).

It doesn’t happen in one day. There are no goals. There’s only practice. Practice never makes perfect. Practice makes happy. Practice makes habits.

I started writing 25 years ago. Every day I read a little. Every day I wrote. I wanted to get better.

I was very bad at the beginning.

I just looked at some fiction I wrote 25 years ago. Wow! Terrible.

Every day I wake up and think, how can I be a little better? Just a tiny bit. Because I know it will make me feel good today to practice. And I know it will add up.

Can I read a little more?

Can I write a little better?

Can I walk a little more?

Can I improve my emotional relationships a little more?

Can I eat a little better? (Just a tiny bit. One time I switched from all-meat to all-raw. Blehh!)

After Tracey threw the popcorn at me in the movie theater I thought to myself, “That’s it. I’m over this.”

I went to the popcorn guys. I got another larger popcorn. I sat on the other side of the theater. Betty Blue was the picture. I can remember.

Did I break up with her? No. I was a chicken. We stayed together another two years. I didn’t have the strength to change my life in one day.

Or I could measure it in broken windows. Three broken windows later we broke up.

Time is relative.

But every day I got better. Now I’m happy.

Unless someone I like throws popcorn at me at the movie theater later today. Then I’m back to square one.

Editor’s note: James’ New Year Resolution was to show folks like you how to collect a minimum of $36,000 from the stock market in a single year. This isn’t really my beat. But I think it’s definitely something you should check out for yourself. Don’t delay. He’s only making this information available until midnight tomorrow. Click here to get the inside track on his secret income strategy.

This week’s mailbag features several clever solutions for making the most of your everyday carry (EDC) items.

You’ll also learn the safest way to handle a stalker, how to upgrade your gun safe so it’s EMP-proof and where to buy the most secure locks for your home.

Let’s dive in.

In at least one place, you were talking about how important it is to have a good belt and that there are seven ways to use your belt for survival. Exactly what are the “seven ways,” or where can I find that information?

— Jim L.

Sure thing, Jim. A good-quality belt has a number of uses. These include…

Making a tourniquet. If there’s an active shooter situation and somebody has been seriously injured, you can use a belt as a tourniquet. Just make sure to pull it very tight. Another medical use for a belt? Use it as a sling for an injured arm.

Securing doors. In an active shooter situation, a belt can also be used to tie and secure doors shut so nobody can access a room or hallway.

Defending yourself. The belt I wear has a heavy buckle made of solid brass I can use for self-defense. I’ve even used it to break a car window.

Sharpening a knife. If you carry a knife and need to sharpen it, you can use a leather belt for stropping the blade.

Building a shelter. A belt can be used to make a shelter by securing pieces of wood together.

Carrying important items. Certain belts have pockets in them where you can carry matches, a utility blade and money, among other things.

Giving a lift. A belt can be used as a tow rope in emergency situations. (Yes, I’ve personally used a belt to tow another car.)

And now, an everyday carry (EDC) tip from one of our readers…

Duct tape has a lot of “bang for your buck,” but it is often overlooked on a list of bug-out stuff (certainly not on most people’s EDC list) probably because the roll is bulky. I carry a length of duct tape wrapped around an old gift card or credit card and keep it in my bag along with my other EDC items.

— Carroll H.

Great advice! Duct tape can be extremely useful in many different survival situations. I have multiple rolls stored with my survival gear and in each of my bug-out bags. But this is a great way to carry some with you in your pocket or your purse for everyday situations.

What steps can one take to protect against a stalker/rapist?

— Ava J.

Having a stalker can be incredibly scary. It’s a threat you should always take seriously because stalking can often escalate to other, more violent actions.

If someone is stalking you, NEVER respond to them. As much as you may want to yell at them or cuss them out, the more attention you give them (even if it’s negative), the more they will harass you.

Next, tell everyone you know — friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. — that you have a stalker. That way everyone around you can be on the lookout for you and let you know if your stalker tries to contact them for any information.

Plus, arm yourself with some type of weapon in case the stalker tries to physically harm you. This could be a firearm, stun gun — even a tactical pen. Whatever your weapon of choice, just make sure you have a way to defend yourself on you at all times.

Lastly, always be aware of your surroundings. It’s important to exercise good situational awareness so you can hopefully avoid your stalker.

What about gun safes in the event of an EMP? They are metal with a sealed door and insulated interior, no? And the lock? If it’s a keypad, is it fried and forever sealed? Is there any way to protect the external keypad?

— Lou S.

Since gun safes are all designed differently, it’s impossible to say whether they would protect items from an EMP. That being said, if your model is completely sealed and nothing inside is exposed to the EMP, then there’s a good chance your electronics would survive.

As for the electronic lock, it probably wouldn’t work after an EMP. However, most electronic locks have a backup key lock, which should still work. Plus, nowadays many companies are creating EMP-proof locks that you can add to an existing safe to replace the older lock.

Is it possible you can make recommendations on the best residential lock sets?

— Bob A.

The best locks to get for your home are either Schlage or Medeco brand. These brands are more expensive than the cheap Kwikset locks you’ll find on most homes, but you get what you pay for.

I personally use Schlage products for all my locks. They are incredibly strong and difficult to pick or bypass.

I received a ton of thoughtful responses to last month’s featured article discussing whether convicted felons ought to be able to have their Second Amendment rights restored. This is one of them.

My name is Joel and I am a convicted felon. As difficult as that is to just put out there, it’s important for those of us who made the wrong choices to own up and be honest.

Of the convictions I have received, none of them was the result of violence… ever! Do I feel that this makes what I did less of a wrongdoing? Absolutely not. However, in the decision of whether or not I should be allowed to purchase or possess a firearm, I believe it does.

I am an Eagle Scout who cherished that accomplishment up until I made the wrong choices, which I suffer from to this day.

My scouting involved extensive gun training… My respect, my understanding and my training brought me to a love of firearms that is still with me today. But I’m stripped of my ability to properly defend myself and my family from the dangers and threats that are ever more present in today’s world. I’m talking about the kind of threats that harsh language or a baseball bat will not resolve.

I hope that my small contribution to the conversation will help people understand that even though I paid for my crimes, I don’t feel there should be a lifetime attachment along with the sentence already served.

Thanks for letting me share…

— Joel M.

Joel, I appreciate your honesty and willingness to own up to the mistakes you made in the past.

I personally believe that every situation is different. The courts need to look at each person on a case-by-case basis to determine if they should be able to own firearms.

When I teach my two-day Spy Course, one of the topics I discuss is caching certain supplies for a crisis.

When it comes to survival situations, caching is a great way to store emergency items away from your home in case you need to leave your house. Two survival items I regularly recommend caching are guns and ammunition.

The fact is whether you are caching guns in preparation for a disaster or out of fear of government overreach causing you to lose your guns, caching weapons is something everyone should consider.

That being said, I would never recommend burying your family’s treasured heirloom or some gun for which you paid tens of thousands of dollars. I do recommend caching more than one firearm. Specifically, I suggest stashing different types of guns — such as pistols, shotguns and rifles.

Obviously, firearms are expensive and caching more than one can quickly add up. So today, I want to share with you some inexpensive (but still quality) guns that you can cache on a budget.

Pistols

As far as caching pistols is concerned, I would stick with 9 mm semi-autos. The reason is 9 mm is a more common caliber, so it will be easier to find ammo if you run out.

If you are digging up a buried firearms cache, you are most likely in a survival situation. A semi-automatic holds more rounds than a revolver. Plus, it’s easier and faster to reload. In an emergency, you want a firearm with multiple magazines that you can reload quickly while moving to safety.

Kel-Tec PF-9 semi-automatic pistol

A few pistols I recommend looking at are the Century Arms Canik 9 mm, Kel-Tec PF-9 and the Ruger 9E — all under $400. And most importantly, these three pistols are dependable when it comes to less-expensive 9 mm pistols.

Shotguns

The biggest advantage of a shotgun is that it is highly effective for hunting — especially when it comes to birds, rabbits, squirrels or any type of small game.

There are many different types of shotgun ammunition, which makes shotguns even more versatile. You could easily cache a few different types of shells with your shotgun so you have the option to use it for hunting or self-defense.

A 12-gauge shotgun is one of the most well-rounded and popular shotguns around. It’s what I would cache for an emergency.

Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge shotgun

A few models to consider are the Mossberg Maverick 88, the Stoeger P3000 and the Savage Stevens 320. These three shotguns sell for under $300 each, and they can all serve multiple purposes in a survival situation.

Rifles

If you decide to cache a rifle, I suggest either a .22 or .223. Like a shotgun, you can use it for hunting small game and self-defense.

Ruger 10/22 carbine .22 LR semi-automatic rifle

You can’t go wrong with a Ruger 10/22, which you can get for around $250. However, if you want to spend a little more money, go ahead and get an AR-15.

One More Option

Another option to consider when building up your cache is buying used firearms. If you like a specific type of pistol that’s a little more expensive and you don’t want to bury it, look into buying a used version. Used guns are still high-quality, but often cost much less because they’re not brand-new.

Of course, before you cache a firearm be sure to give it a good cleaning as well as put plenty of rounds through it. You need to be just as familiar with your cached guns as your everyday guns so you feel confident using them when you need to.

Lastly, don’t forget to store the necessary ammo and cleaning supplies with your guns. You have no idea what condition the firearm may be in when you dig it up. You’ll want to be able to give it a good cleaning before you use it.

[Editor’s Note: Today’s edition comes to you from Jim Rickards, one of the world’s foremost experts on crisis investing. He’s the author of two best-selling books on the subject… and was one of the few people who correctly predicted the 2008 financial crisis. You can claim a FREE copy of his new book The Road to Ruin: The Global Elites’ Secret Plan for the Next Financial Crisis right here.]

The news from the White House on March 8, 2018 stunned the world.

First a visiting envoy from South Korea informed the press gathered just outside the entrance to the West Wing that North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, was willing to meet with President Trump to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Kim also reportedly said that he was willing to halt his own testing of missiles and nuclear weapons pending the outcome of negotiations, and that he understood the U.S. and South Korea might continue military exercises in the meantime.

Within a few hours, Trump met with the press to repeat the offer from Kim that the South Koreans had relayed to him, and to say that he accepted the offer to meet face-to-face with Kim.

This would be the first meeting of a sitting president with a leader of North Korea in history. The meeting was expected to take place by May although no firm date had been set.

Despite the surprise nature of the announcement, analysts were quick to point out that the meeting should not have come as a complete shock.

North Korea has repeatedly expressed a desire to meet with the U.S. However, that desire was always coupled with conditions the U.S. found unacceptable. Suddenly those conditions were being dropped.

Similarly, Trump has said publicly that he would be willing to meet with Kim under the right circumstances despite an exchange of insults in which Trump called Kim, “Little Rocket Man,” and Kim referred to Trump as a “dotard.”

Now all of that seemed to be in the rearview mirror as efforts to organize a summit got underway.

There’s a lot of drama surrounding the president’s decision-making process, whether the right officials were in the loop, and whether Trump made a mistake by conferring legitimacy on a murderous dictator.

It’s also ironic to watch critics of the president who recently called him a “warmonger” now suddenly saying he was being “played” by Kim because he opened the door to peace talks.

Those critics can’t have it both ways. In a critical situation such as the U.S.-North Korean relationship, you’re either on a path to war or a path to peace.

If you believe the path to war has unacceptable risks, then you have to applaud the path to peace that Trump is now pursuing even if you’re not a Trump supporter.

That said, there are still some big questions up in the air.

Will the summit meeting actually happen?

There is considerable doubt about this. In the first instance, Kim did not announce the invitation himself. It was relayed by South Korean envoys following a meeting in North Korea between Kim and South Korean President Moon.

Since the offer and Trump’s response were announced there has been no comment from Kim or North Korean media.

Was something lost in translation? Did Trump’s acceptance take the North Koreans by surprise? Has Kim changed his mind and is hanging the South Koreans out to dry? So far, we don’t know.

Even if Kim confirms the invitation, there are countless hurdles in the way of a meeting. Two months is a very short timeline for both sides to prepare their opening negotiating positions, their real bottom line positions, and the red lines where they walk away from the table.

Not only do those positions have to be solidified, but they have to be gamed-out in a point-counterpoint fashion with estimated response functions. All of this preparation has to be informed with the best possible intelligence collections.

A process of this complexity would normally take more like six months rather than two, so we should not expect an actual summit until late summer at the earliest.

Where will the summit be held?

Then there are logistical hurdles independent of the substance of the talks. Obviously it won’t be in North or South Korea proper.

It might take place in the two-mile wide demilitarized zone, DMZ, between North and South Korea in one of two “peace villages” located there. However, each peace village is technically in North Korea or South Korea respectively.

There is also a “truce village” called the Joint Security Area, JSA, in the DMZ, which is technically under United Nations control and where North and South Korea have held negotiations in the past. However, facilities there are Spartan and it would be impossible to ensure the president’s security and safety.

Beijing would be unacceptable to North Korea because they do not want to appear to be under China’s thumb. Japan is unacceptable to all parties because of historical animus between Korea and Japan.

Russia is a logical place to hold the meeting, and Vladimir Putin would make an eager host. The modern city of Vladivostok, Russia is less than a 100-mile train ride from the North Korean border with Russia. (The Kim family have a well-known aversion to flying and prefer to travel by train whenever possible.)

Of course, a meeting in Russia hosted by Putin would inflame Trump’s critics who claim he’s secretly in thrall to his Russian masters. So, Russia is probably out as a venue also.

In short, there may be no good place to hold the meeting. If one can be found, it may take months to identify, agree, and sort the logistics, so that’s another impediment to anything happening soon.

The bottom line is that there is good reason to expect the summit will not happen, and every reason to believe it will not happen before September if it does.

If the summit happens, what is the expected outcome?

The answer to this question could fill a book, but here’s the short answer – nothing.

North Korean leadership is guided by a political ideology called Juche, loosely translated as “self-reliance.”

What this means in practical terms is the reunification of the two Koreas on terms which perpetuate the Kim regime and expulsion of U.S. influence from the region.

All parties might agree that reunification is desirable, but not in a way that subordinates South Korea to the Kim dynasty. And elimination of U.S. influence from the region is a non-starter for South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

The U.S. might agree to remove its nuclear weapons from South Korea in exchange for North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way, but North Korea will not give up its weapons unless the U.S. withdraws from the region.

In other words, the parties have irreconcilable goals. This should be apparent to all concerned.

If that’s true, what’s the point of a summit meeting? In Kim’s case the cost is low.

He can continue developing his nuclear missile program even without launches and detonations while the talks continue. His concession on U.S. military exercises in the meantime also costs nothing because the U.S. was certain to conduct those exercises anyway.

Kim might hope that the U.S. or China will ease up on sanctions enforcement while talks continue. If that happens, it’s a pure win for Kim.

From the U.S. perspective, Trump may be overestimating his negotiating skills. Trump is not a seasoned international negotiator like Nixon or Kissinger, and Kim is not a New York real estate developer.

Trump can at least ensure the U.S. does not give away anything significant. Despite technical progress, it’s unlikely that North Korea can acquire a nuclear-armed ICBM arsenal that threatens the U.S. without resuming tests. Trump will certainly win some political points for his willingness even to meet with Kim.

In short, both sides have almost nothing to lose and perhaps a little to gain from the talks. That’s a reason to go forward, but it’s not a reason to expect a breakthrough.

Both sides win some kudos and buy some time. Still, expectations should be quite low that any material progress will emerge.

If the summit does not happen, are we back on the path to war?

If the summit does not happen, or if it takes place with inconclusive results, then the U.S. and North Korea will be back on the path to war.

The likelihood of war rests on two simple and irreconcilable positions. North Korea wants a nuclear-armed ICBM arsenal to insure the Kim regime’s perpetuation in power.

The U.S. will not permit North Korea to obtain such an arsenal because it poses an existential threat to U.S. civilization.

There’s no middle ground in those two positions.

As of early December 2017, the U.S. and North Korea were on a path to war, probably within a matter of months. It was then that an informal “freeze-for-freeze” emerged.

Freeze-for-freeze means that North Korea would freeze weapons tests if the U.S. agreed to freeze further military exercises involving Korea. Freeze-for-freeze was the preferred position of North Korea, Russia and China.

But the U.S. would not agree to both because it refused to negotiate with North Korea with preconditions and it did not want North Korea to dictate the tempo of U.S. military exercises.

However, an informal freeze-for-freeze emerged anyway because of South Korea’s request that both sides refrain from provocative acts during the Winter Olympics held in February in South Korea.

The U.S. silently agreed to this with no loss of face. North Korea also stopped firing missiles after late November. The North’s last nuclear detonation was in September 2017.

A freeze-for-freeze happened without any formalities or any overt declarations by either side. This effectively stopped the clock on the path to war and pushed back the timeline.

The freeze-for-freeze is now over; the U.S. plans military exercises in April. But, the expired freeze-for-freeze may now be replaced by the peace talks if they can be arranged.

Yet, if the peace talks produce nothing, which is what we expect, then the countdown clock starts ticking again and both sides are back on the path to war later this year.

By then, Kim would have made technical strides in guidance systems and warhead engineering and miniaturization even without missile tests or detonations.

From there he could move to “breakout” mode where he resumes testing in an effort to validate and perfect his new technologies in a matter of a few months or less.

At that point, the U.S. will go to war to stop him.

We should pray for the best possible outcome. But, we should prepare for the worst.

Can you tie your shoes without looking at them? Can you brush your teeth without glancing in the mirror? Can you walk with your eyes closed in an open, unobstructed area?

Of course you can.

These are all examples of muscle memory.

Muscle memory is the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought. It is acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.

The magic number is 2,500 times. After that, you will be able to repeat a movement without having to stop and think about it.

Why do I bring this up? In recent Black Bag Confidential articles, I have outlined several handgun drills that — when practiced — could save your life. But in the heat of the moment, the key to survival is reacting unconsciously.

You can go to the range and fire a grouping the size of a dime… You can punch a heavy bag with a right cross and knock it back two feet…

But when you’re placed in these positions without notice or preparation — will you be able to perform with the same effectiveness?

The key to effective self-defense in a lifesaving situation is training, which simply equals repetition — or muscle memory. Essentially, reacting without realizing you are reacting.

Practice Makes Perfect

I was fortunate enough during my time in the SEAL Teams to have an unlimited amount of ammunition and training time to perform live fire exercises and establish muscle memory.

We were conditioned to react without conscious thought to life-threatening situations. THAT WAS OUR JOB! If you are a person who feels it is important to be able to react in the same way, you need to train yourself.

This is where dry fire practice comes in.

*** TRIPLE-CHECK YOU HAVE A CLEAR, SAFE AND UNLOADED WEAPON ***

Whether you are a CCW (carrying a concealed weapon) licensed person or someone who just keeps a weapon in your bedside table, the key to being effective and responding to any life-threatening situation is repeat, repeat, repeat.

Over and over again, react to what you might think would be the “worst-case scenario.” Do this to the point where you can INSTINCTIVELY react without thought to this realistic threat.

*** TRIPLE-CHECK YOU HAVE A CLEAR, SAFE AND UNLOADED WEAPON ***

It is very important that you do this in an environment that will not scare your family. But understand that you are doing this to protect your family.

Be a survivor… not a statistic,

Cade Courtley

Dry Fire Practice With Jason Hanson

Cade is absolutely right. One of the best ways to become a better shooter and be better prepared for a gunfight so you don’t panic (as much) is through dry fire practice.

However, dry fire training can be extremely dangerous if you don’t follow these steps:

Pick a safe location — Once you decide where to practice, you need to know your backstop. It’s obviously a terrible idea to dry fire in your bedroom if the wall you’re pointing the gun at leads to your children’s room. Make sure that if you have an accidental discharge while dry firing, the bullet will go into a stack of phone books, a bookshelf, a bulletproof vest or another safe backstop.

Remove all ammunition — Once you’ve chosen a safe location, make sure there is absolutely no ammunition in the area. Unload your gun in one room, leave the ammunition in that room and then go to your dry fire location, which should be in a separate room.

Check your weapon — When you enter your practice space, physically and visually check to make sure you have a safe and empty weapon. As Cade mentioned, check this three times. After you’re sure that your weapon is clear, you can begin your dry fire training.

Practice continuously — If for any reason you get interrupted during your training, start over. In other words, if your phone rings and you answer it (which you shouldn’t be doing), you need to begin again. Check your backstop, make sure there is no ammo in the room and verify your weapon is clear.

I recommend training sessions that are 15–20 minutes long. Any longer and you begin to get fatigued and lose concentration.

Here is an example of a dry fire routine you could do during a typical 15–20 minute session:

✓ 10 perfect trigger pulls starting with your arms fully extended

✓ 10 perfect trigger pulls starting from the ready

✓ 10 perfect trigger pulls starting from the holster

✓ 5 perfect trigger pulls with the strong hand only

✓ 5 perfect trigger pulls with the support hand only

✓ 5 perfect trigger pulls starting with your hands in the air in the “surrender position.”

I recommend dry firing several times a week. Believe it or not, if you start dry firing today, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your shooting skills improve over the next 30 days.

Vary your routine so you don’t get bored. Try to have a different routine for each day of the week. And ALWAYS follow the safety steps above so your dry fire practice doesn’t end in a tragic accident.

What you’re looking at right now is a handful of copper, zinc and nickel.

It might be worth a cup of coffee at the 7-11 down the street… but only because the government says so.

The actual metal content in your hand doesn’t amount to much.

But it wasn’t always this way. Back in the day, our money used to have real value.

Before 1933, we had coins made with 90% real gold (valued at $20, $10, $5 and $2.50). And as recently as 1964, the U.S. Mint distributed coins made of 90% silver.

There was good reason for this as well.

As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “[Gold and silver coin] is the most perfect medium because it will preserve its own level; because, having intrinsic and universal value, it can never die in our hands, and it is the surest resource of reliance in time of war.”

Simply put, the “value” of the modern dollar depends on the actions of the Federal Reserve, central banks and dozens of global factors out of our control.

But gold and silver derive their value from their intrinsic worth. They have practical uses in science and industry. And this makes them resistant to devaluation.

And that’s not going to change even if our government tumbles or our economy falls apart.

Heck, even if an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) shut down the entire national electric grid… and fried every piece of electronic equipment from California to the Carolinas… gold would still be gold, and silver would still be silver.

Which is why physical gold and silver are my favorite ways to store wealth.

Coins and bullion can’t be wiped out by a computer glitch. And they increase in value with market prices.

For that reason, they should be an integral part of everyone’s emergency prep.

We’ve talked about investing in Silver Eagle coins in the past… but today I want to talk about junk silver.

Silver Linings

Before we get started, I want to dispel any preconceived notions that “junk silver” is somehow worth less than regular silver.

When folks talk about junk silver, they are simply referring to those coins with a high silver content that were minted before 1965.

By the sound of it, you’d think that these coins were worthless. But the “junk” in junk silver simply means that these coins have no “collectable” value.

Junk silver coins bear all the hallmarks of well-used legal tender — scuff marks, discoloration, scratches. And this makes them “worthless” to a collector who wants to show them off in a fancy display case.

But this has no effect on the intrinsic value of the silver contained in the coin. And you certainly won’t be displaying these fellas on your mantle. They’re going to be safely stored away for use in a crisis.

So what benefits might junk silver have over those shiny new Silver Eagle coins being pumped out by the Mint?

As you know, trading gold during a severe economic crisis would be mighty difficult. Not because it won’t retain its value… but because it would be much too valuable.

You might use an ounce of gold to buy cattle… or a parcel of land. But how are you going to pay for your weekly groceries, clothes or basic necessities?

Silver Eagle coins are more versatile for daily shopping, being less valuable by weight. But their purity and weight are still going to be worth around $17–20 — which will make buying cheap individual items a headache.

That’s where junk silver comes in.

These old coins are lighter than Silver Eagles and only 90% pure, making them kind of like the pocket change of the crisis investment kit.

Of course, the price of silver has gone way up since they were minted, so they’re a lot more valuable than the value of the coins as legal tender.

At today’s prices, a 90% silver dime is worth about $1.20, while a silver quarter is worth $2.99. But I expect these values would rise during a severe economic crisis when other forms of currency have been eliminated.

But even at that, they’ll still be far more versatile than gold and silver bullion.

Another major benefit of junk silver is that its value is widely recognized.

It’s relatively common knowledge that coins predating 1965 were made of 90% silver. And you can bet your butt that little tidbit will become widely circulated once folks start regularly trading with silver.

Right now a roll of 50 dimes at an online dealer will cost you about $68. A roll of quarters goes for a little over $122. I’d buy $300–400 worth and stash them with the rest of your emergency supplies.

What about you, reader? Do you have any junk silver in your emergency kit? What about something surprising in there most folks wouldn’t have in their kit? Shoot me an email if you have any questions or suggestions for future topics you’d like me to cover.

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, a man and a woman slumped on a bench in a crowded shopping center in southern England. In the ensuing days it would become clear they were the intended victims of a vicious chemical attack.

The man is former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. The woman, his daughter Yulia. The weapon, a military-grade nerve agent named Novichok.

An Old Cold War Foe

Part of a class of nerve agents developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, Novichoks are made up of two components that are less hazardous prior to mixing. This binary property makes Novichok agents (unlike other nerve agents) easier to handle and transport — and circumvents international chemical weapons treaties.

Novichok agents can exist in a solid, liquid and gaseous forms. They may be inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin. Some variants take effect in as little as 30 seconds while others have the potential for a slower release.

Two women approached Jong Nam and sprayed liquid VX — another extremely toxic nerve agent — on his face and then covered it with a handkerchief. He suffered a painful death within half an hour.

It takes as little as 10 milligrams of VX — which stands for “venomous agent X” — simply making contact with your skin to cause death. It’s so lethal that 75% of those it touches will die within eight hours. (Compare that with certain Novichok variants that are five–eight timesmore deadly.)

KLIA is one of the biggest airports in Southeast Asia and the 23rd-busiest airport in the world. It’s extremely fortunate that no other passengers at the airport that day were exposed to the deadly chemical.

(In England, traces of Novichok were found at a restaurant and pub the Skripals had visited. But so far no other victims have been reported.)

Act Fast to Stay Alive

Chemical weapons can be fatal in incredibly small doses, which is one of the reasons they are so hazardous. The effects of nerve agents are long-lasting and increase with continued exposure.

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of a chemical attack, it is critical that you take the following steps to minimize the risks:

Remain calm — I realize this is easier said than done, but it’s vital that you keep a level head. When you panic, you inhale air faster, which is dangerous if the air around you is contaminated with poisonous chemicals. Do your best to stay calm and act quickly.

Get out and go high — Obviously, the first thing you should do if you observe a chemical weapon attack is get as far away as possible. If you are indoors, exit the building as quickly as possible and head for higher ground. Nerve agents in gaseous form are denser than air, meaning the vapors will sink.

Remove your clothes — Once you escape the exposed area, immediately remove your clothes. However, do not remove any item of clothing over your head. If your clothes are indeed contaminated, doing so will spread the chemical to other parts of your body. Instead, cut off your clothes and place them inside a plastic bag.

Wash with soap and warm water — The women who perpetrated the attack on Kim Jong Nam immediately washed their hands afterward. If your skin makes contact with a chemical agent, immediately wash the affected area with soap and warm water. It is imperative that you act quickly so the chemical doesn’t absorb into your skin.

Be prepared with the right gear — Even if you have a gas mask as part of your survival gear, it won’t keep you safe from nerve agents like VX if they get on your skin. If a chemical attack is something you are concerned about, I recommend purchasing a hazmat suit. DuPont makes several types of protective suits you can buy online. That being said, Novichok agents were designed to defeat chemical protective gear, which ultimately means avoidance is key.

Seek professional care — There are select antidotes that can counteract the effects of nerve agent poisoning — although many of these drugs are also toxic on their own. And while they may save your life, you will likely still be incapacitated briefly — or for an extended period — depending on the extent of exposure.

I hope we never have to deal with the reality of chemical warfare in the United States. But the truth is it’s a terrifying possibility that we may one day have to face.

Clearly, there are countries out there that are still developing and testing these types of weapons, so it’s important that you know what to do in the event of a chemical attack.

Even if I don’t know the answer off the top of my head, there’s a good chance I know someone who does.

You see, I’ve made some strange desk mates here at Laissez Faire. There’s a former hedge fund manager… a Navy SEAL… a couple of best-selling authors… even a man who predicted the last financial crisis.

I have lifetimes of specialist experience at my fingertips… and I don’t plan on letting that go to waste.

This week we’ve been discussing decoy safes and how to discreetly hide your valuables. And you guys have sent me a whole bunch of emails asking for more information on disaster-proof safes.

To help answer your questions, I’ve enlisted former CIA agent and security expert Jason Hanson to help with your questions.

Hell or High Water

A big safe is no protection from a fire. Everything inside will be subjected to high temperatures and melt down or burn up. Where on your property could you store things so that they might not be subjected to fire or flood or anyone knowing they are there? — Phyllis D

Generally speaking, if you’re storing silver and gold, fire won’t be a major concern.

Silver and gold won’t melt until extremely high temperatures (almost 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively). So they are relatively safe from a home fire, which would rarely ever get anywhere near that hot.

That said, you’ll definitely want to store cash, legal documents and other less resilient valuables in a fireproof safe. For that, Jason recommends the SentrySafe SFW123DSB.

“This model is a standard combination safe with no electronic locks, so it doesn’t require batteries,” says Jason. “It offers one hour of fire protection and is water resistant up to eight inches. One of the reasons I like this safe is that you can bolt it to your floor.

“Criminals will often grab a safe during a burglary and figure out how to get into it later. But if it’s bolted down, they won’t be able to take it with them. This safe sells for around $200 on Amazon.”

For an added level of security, you can secure this primary safe behind a false wall in your closet and throw burglars off with a cheap decoy safe.

This requires a bit of handyman magic, so we’ll discuss this idea in more detail in a future issue.

Back to Basics

Owen. Love your articles — simple, to the point and always relevant.

If there were an EMP attack by North Korea, what would happen to my gun safe? The keypad is electronic. The lock is electronic. Would the whole thing be fried? Would I be able to get my gun out? — Oscar M.

I’m afraid electronic gun cases aren’t built with an EMP blast in mind.

So unless you were able to replace the damaged parts, your gun safe would be permanently locked… with your gun inside.

And right when you need it the most.

Jason has four kids… and a lot of guns… which means storing guns safely is one of his top priorities.

So needless to say, he has a lot of gun safes.

Some of them are rapid-access electronic safes that he can open at a moment’s notice. While others are simplex safes that won’t be fried by an EMP blast.

If you’re a gun owner, you might want to consider storing your guns in two separate gun cases — one simplex and one electronic.

Jason recommends you check out Fort Knox Safes for a good nonelectronic safe.

That’s all for now. Keep sending me those emails. They let me know what you want to read about and help me zero in on the most urgent problems. And I’ll be featuring reader questions here regularly. Click here to send me one right now.

All the best,

Owen Sullivan
Editor, Money & Crisis

P.S. This is kind of outside my beat. But an opportunity crossed my desk this morning… and I’ve been going over the numbers… and I really think this is something you need to check out for yourselves.

One of those desk mates I mentioned earlier has discovered a way to rip $3,000 a month out of the market… with a 92% success rate. His name is James Altucher and he’ll tell you all about it right here.

In the past year, a number of violent storms — from hurricanes to bomb cyclones — have caused massive flooding in various parts of the U.S.

This piece, published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, points out an often overlooked consequence of these natural disasters. As water quality specialist Mike Daniels puts it, “When flooding submerges wellheads, there’s a good chance the well water supply has been contaminated.”

I’m on well water myself — and I know many people in the same boat. If you’re concerned about the quality of your well water, there are a couple things you can do…

First, click on the link above to find out the best way to treat bacterial contamination in your home water system.

Second, click on the link below to get your hands on a critical survival tool that can produce clean, safe drinking water for you and your family — no matter how polluted the source.

Water is absolutely critical to survival. That being said, I’d be willing to bet that only 2% of the U.S. population has a way to filter clean water if a contamination or disruption in the water supply were to take place.

In addition to building up (at least) a 30-day water supply in your home, you should also have a way to filter clean water if that supply were to run out or if you’re forced to leave your home for any reason.

To ensure your family can survive a crisis situation without worrying about dehydration or disease, buy your family one of these crucial devices today.

On Sunday, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury, England, victims of a deliberate nerve gas attack.

The chemical agent used was identified as Novichok, a holdover from the Soviet era. Novichok is considered one of the world’s deadliest weapons. In fact, scientists say it is five–eight times more deadly than VX (which kills 75% of those it touches within eight hours).

The most troubling aspect of this story is not who was behind the attack or who was targeted, but how many people could be next. Some experts believe the alleged perpetrators of this attack possess enough Novichok to kill hundreds of thousands.

It’s a truly terrifying possibility. I don’t mean to scare you, but I want you to be prepared. I’m currently working on an article that will cover what you should do if you’re exposed to deadly nerve agents like Novichok. Stay tuned…

This post from Two-Way Radio Talk serves as a good reminder to use discretion in your disaster planning. The last thing you want to do is advertise how prepared you are so all your neighbors will know where to come running in an emergency.

Take a look — you’ll discover six ways to increase your OPSEC (operational security) while prepping and five more ways to maintain it after the SHTF. Plus, author Rich Murphy also offers some sage advice for managing OPSEC with children.

Smartphones are incredibly convenient — they make our lives easier in many ways. However, there are some inherent dangers to storing so much sensitive information in one place. (That’s why I still use a trusty flip phone.)

USA Today recently reported that lawmakers are scrutinizing certain brands of smartphones “over their reputed ties to the Chinese intelligence and military establishment.” Furthermore, the U.S. government is worried that these devices “could be conduits for Chinese espionage, both on a targeted and a grand scale.”

So if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, take a look at the article above to learn which brands to avoid.

Imagine what your world may look like a year after the grid goes down…

Life as you know it has changed forever.

Many of the unprepared had died of starvation or disease. But you survived on your wits and the emergency supplies you had stored away…

After some early growing pains, folks have adjusted to life in a powerless, cashless society. And with a bumper crop during the spring, you now have plenty of extra food to trade at the market.

But before you can even finish setting up your stall, a stranger from out of town offers to buy the lot… with a handful of silver.

Now, you know that silver is a valuable asset, even in this economy.

Like gold, it held its value after the collapse. Yet silver has some distinct advantages.

Yes, gold will always be an excellent store of wealth. It’s perfect for buying land or large amounts of cattle. But it’s far too valuable for daily trading.

That’s where silver picks up the slack.

Because it’s less valuable by weight, it’s far more practical for trading. You can easily trade an ounce of silver for clothes, groceries or other small purchases.

That’s exactly why Currency Wars author Jim Rickards rates silver as the “perfect medium of exchange in times of trouble.”

In fact, Jim says that now is the time to stock up on silver. “It’s smart to keep 20–50 ounces of pure silver on hand in the form of American Silver Eagles from the U.S. Mint,” says Jim.

“Twenty ounces will cost less than $400 at today’s prices, including commission, from a reputable dealer. In desperate circumstances in which cash and digital money are no good, a pure silver ounce will gladly be accepted by stores with goods to sell.”

The problem is, how do you tell if the silver you’re being offered is real?

With most traditional businesses gone the way of the dinosaur, you won’t be able to take it to a professional appraiser. (They’d charge you a fortune for a simple test anyway.)

But you can instantly check the authenticity of the silver with some quick and easy techniques…

You can test this by tapping two pieces of silver off each other, spinning a coin or ring on a flat surface or dropping the piece of silver from a height of six inches.

If the silver content is high, you should hear a sound like a bell ringing.

Silver Authenticity Test #2: The Ice Test

Silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any common metal or alloy.

This means it transfers heat fast… really fast.

If you can get your hands on some ice, place it on the silver and it will start melting as if it had been placed on a hot surface.

Watch the ice carefully to make sure it’s not just melting as it would at room temperature.

This works best with flat pieces of bullion or coins. It won’t work as well on irregular-shaped pieces like jewelry.

Silver Authenticity Test #3: The Magnet Test

Silver exhibits weak magnetic effects, which can be tested with a strong neodymium magnet (you can pick up one of these super cheap on Amazon).

Hold the magnet against the metal. If it sticks firmly, it’s not real silver.

However, if it sticks gently to the metal and slides off easily, there’s a good chance it’s silver.

When combined with the two other tests above, this method will give you a strong indication whether or not you’re holding real silver.

But if you’re still not sure, it’s time to break out the big guns.

Silver Authenticity Test #4: The Acid Test

Make sure you get the permission of the silver owner before you apply the acid method.

For this test, we’ll be using nitric acid, which can cause permanent discoloration to the silver.

Mind you, it won’t reduce the intrinsic worth of the item. But folks might not want you marking up a family heirloom.

You can pick up a bottle of silver-testing acid online for less than $3. You should buy one of these now and store it in a safe place until you need it.

To test the metal, start by making a small scratch on the surface.

If you aren’t able to scratch the metal, you can stop here. If the metal is too hard, you probably have stainless steel on your hands.

Using a dropper, drip a tiny amount of acid inside the scratch. If there’s no reaction, it’s not silver.

If the there is a reaction and the metal changes color, you have some sort of silver on your hands.

You’ll be able to work out the purity of the silver from the color, which will range from 10KW to sterling silver.

Don’t worry about memorizing these colors. Your acid testing kit will come with a small color chart to compare the reaction against.

As always, keep sending me those emails. They let me know what you want to read and help me zero in on the most urgent problems. And I’ll be featuring reader questions here regularly. Click here to send me one right now.

All the best,

Owen Sullivan
Editor, Money & Crisis

Editor’s note: The strategies you read in Money & Crisis were developed with the help of Jim Rickards, the best-selling author of Currency Wars and The Death of Money.

This shocking account of the next financial crisis reveals one of the biggest threats to your wealth today… and shows you the simple steps you can take to protect your money and your family. Claim your FREE copy now.